Recruitment & Retention 2027

[Morgan]

Unfortunately in my humble view hes not ready physically for the weekly rigours of 1st grade

You are right. He needs at least half a season in reserve grade. At least. I'd keep him in reserve grade this year but definitely in line to be starting halfback from round 1 next year. I'm not being overly cautious as you sometimes are.

 

[redv4life]

There are bigger issues than even I thought. Don’t wanna go too much into it but we will lose our absolute best kids if Shane isn’t sacked soon

 

[Frank Facer]

Unbelievable! We are on a 8 game losing streak, lose to NQ and Manly in the next two rounds and we'll be in NRL losing streak record territory by the time Origin comes around, well under 40% win ratio, probably worse than Price, McGregor and Griffin and you want to give Flanno until next year. Talk about a losing culture.

But I don't believe. Do you have some kind of personal relationship with the Flanagan family? Or let me put it this way; After Flanno is sacked, will you still support the Dragons?

I have no relationship with Flanno or his family.

We lost the last 4 games of last season, with a team that was decimated with injuries.

We have had a roster that is considered one of, if not the worst in the comp before Flanno took over and since Flanno took over. We have had a roster that if I was a prospective coach, I wouldn't have taken the job, just like Slater, Ryles, Ciraldo and Fitzgibbon all didn't want.

I have supported St George since 1979. I couldn't support any other team. If I was super rich, I would buy St George and make them a powerhouse club and located us at Kogarah. I would even build us a new stadium and club, if I was rich enough. I am St George through and through.

I also think changing the coach is like re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic, unless we can get someone of the likes of Bellamy, Cleary and Nathan or Webster.

I also don't think any teams that are not from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne will win the comp in the next 5 years. Do you think any of them will?

 

[Morgan]

I also don't think any teams that are not from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne will win the comp in the next 5 years. Do you think any of them will?

So every team is a chance except NQ, GC, Canberra and NZ? I vehemently disagree.

 

[Mailroomsgi]

Canberra and the warriors absolutely could, Newcastle look like their on an upward trajectory

It’s never as bad as you think it is and it’s never as good as you think it is, always somewhere in between

I’ve said it for a long time and it rings true that the path for this club do get out of the cellar is to build and develop from within

Understanding our place at this point in time and where we stand and what we need to do to produce our own talent that can grow and develop as a team mixed in with 4-5 ‘imports’ to fill in the gaps of weaker areas of the side

We’ve been improving in this regard and if you look at the talent from 17-20 in the club atm it’s promising, all it takes is the right coach and staff to get a tune out of them + some logical and well thought out recruitment with no ‘disastrous’ contracts handed out like we gave to Corey Norman. (We’ve got the same thing now with Gutho but most people don’t realise it yet)

Will be interesting to see how much we pay the Couchman bros + Halangahu. The next contracts handed out to the young brigade should be longer and might be a little more than they deserve due to demand for talent across the league

 

[Frank Facer]

So every team is a chance except NQ, GC, Canberra and NZ? I vehemently disagree.

You can add Newcastle, WA Bears, Papa New Guinea and us to the list of clubs who are not from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane who I don't think will win a comp in the next 5 years. Time will tell if any of them do happen to win a comp in that time frame. I am not saying none of them are a "chance", but I would take even money that none of them do win comp in the next 5 years. Only one team not from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne has won a comp in the last 15 years, being Nth Qld.

 

[Morgan]

You can add Newcastle, WA Bears, Papa New Guinea and us to the list of clubs who are not from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane who I don't think will win a comp in the next 5 years. Time will tell if any of them do happen to win a comp in that time frame. I am not saying none of them are a "chance", but I would take even money that none of them do win comp in the next 5 years. Only one team not from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne has won a comp in the last 15 years, being Nth Qld.

And? Penrith is basically a satellite city. As far from the CBD as Wollongong.

 

[Frank Facer]

Canterbury were one of the bottom teams before Phil Gould took over. He has built them up into a team who can win a comp in the next 5 years. They will most likely be one of the stronger clubs over the next 5 years or more. They haven't done it with juniors. They have done it with buying players and being one of the most successful at buying players. They have had Laundy get on board and help them. That is the role Bruce Gordon should be playing for us, but he doesn't. Canterbury are also located in Sydney, which I think helps compared to the non Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne teams.

Redcliff were only admitted to the comp in 2023. They are on their way to building better squad than most of the non Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne teams within 4 years. They are probably more chance of winning a comp than any of the non Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne teams in the near future.

St George has one of the biggest supporter bases in the game. That supporter base isn't just from the St George area, it is all over Sydney, NSW and Australia. That supporter base should be worth something. I was talking to a mate recently who is a Saints fan from as long as I can remember. He said he hardly even watches any games anymore. It looks like he has lost interest. He came to the 1999 grand final and the 2005 semi final against Wests at the SFS with me. You could say that we have alienated our supporter base being located at Wollongong, also our lack of success is alienating our supporter base.

 

[Frank Facer]

And? Penrith is basically a satellite city. As far from the CBD as Wollongong.

No, Penrith is part of Sydney. Just use the Sydney rail network as a guide. It goes down to Waterfall, up to Hornsby, to Richmond and west to Penrith and Macarthur. That is the template I would use for Sydney metropolitan area.

 

[Morgan]

No, Penrith is part of Sydney. Just use the Sydney rail network as a guide. It goes down to Waterfall, up to Hornsby, to Richmond and west to Penrith and Macarthur. That is the template I would use for Sydney metropolitan area.

True. But the point is, sometimes it's hard to say. Regardless, I's say Canberra and NZ are a very high chance of winning in the next 5 years. Who knows with Newcastle. If Ponga can stay mostly injury free, I'd say they are also an excellent chance.

As for Melbourne, never write them off with Bellamy as coach but they are losing their lustre. Broncos of course but with Dolphins rising, who I don't think technically are a Brisbane team, I'm not so confident. Less so than I am for Canberra and NZ. As for Sydney team which stand out, obviously Penrith. Cleary, Yeo are two of the greatest. Any team with those two is a good chance. Apart from Penrith, as for Sydney teams, none really stick out. Maybe in 2 or 3 years with Kade Reed, KK, LPT, Halangahu, Egan, Burton, Couchmans's, Stewart, Dragons are an excellent chance. Though we are only half Sydney so not sue if that counts.

 

[redv4life]

Will be interesting to see how much we pay the Couchman bros + Halangahu. The next contracts handed out to the young brigade should be longer and might be a little more than they deserve due to demand for talent across the league

Won’t be here mate if Shane is still

 

[RufusRex]

This week ... two of Guler/Kerr/Lawire shouldnt play simple

 

[Morgan]

This week ... two of Guler/Kerr/Lawire shouldnt play simple

Kerr........ Can we swap him for JDB for this year?

 

[Frank Facer]

True. But the point is, sometimes it's hard to say. Regardless, I's say Canberra and NZ are a very high chance of winning in the next 5 years. Who knows with Newcastle. If Ponga can stay mostly injury free, I'd say they are also an excellent chance.

As for Melbourne, never write them off with Bellamy as coach but they are losing their lustre. Broncos of course but with Dolphins rising, who I don't think technically are a Brisbane team, I'm not so confident. Less so than I am for Canberra and NZ. As for Sydney team which stand out, obviously Penrith. Cleary, Yeo are two of the greatest. Any team with those two is a good chance. Apart from Penrith, as for Sydney teams, none really stick out. Maybe in 2 or 3 years with Kade Reed, KK, LPT, Halangahu, Egan, Burton, Couchmans's, Stewart, Dragons are an excellent chance. Though we are only half Sydney so not sue if that counts.

Redcliff's main home ground is Suncorp. That is Brisbane.

Souths will have Haas there next year. That will boost their chances of winning a comp. If they can sign a pair of halves, such as Boyd and a 5/8 their chances will increase dramatically.

Canterbury are building a top 4 team and will be very strong over the next 5 years plus

Easts are always strong, but will lose Nawaqanitawase next year and Teddy will be another year older. Politis will make sure the stay strong and go to the market and get his man as per usual. They may get Manu back.

When Nathan Tinkler owned Newcastle, he bought Bennett as coach and then Bennett went on the biggest spending spree in history, buying countless players. If my memory serves me correctly, none or very few of them were youngsters. He did have them making the semis at least one year. We need Gordon to open the cheque book and sign either Cleary, Webster or Bellamy and then open the cheque book and sign some marquee players. That is our best chance or Gordon should just sell his shares to someone who is prepared to outlay money for us to be successful.

I read somewhere from a not to reliable source that we are wanting to sign Ivan Cleary to coach and have Nathan and Jet as part of the package deal. I would take that, but I think it is pipedream. If it did come true, I think we would be getting close to being premiership material, especially if the likes of Burton and Walker could be the players I hope they will be for us.

I agree we do have a lot of good youngsters and will be better next year, no matter who our coach is, because he will have better cattle. But we are a long way off being premiership material. I am hoping the likes of Burton, Reed and Rocko all turn out to be stars, that will enhance our chances. I am also hoping Jesse Williams develops into a top first grader and gives us some real speed on the wing. I do live in hope.